smith



i E. sMTH Aug. 9, 1932. Re. 18,566

3 Sheets-Shet 1 Original Filed Jan. 12. 1927 TTOBNEKS E. H. SMITH Aug. 9, 1932. Re. 18,565

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan". 12. 1927 A o i lir/6' Mf /llr.

VE. H. SMITH BREAD TOASTER Re. 18,566 3 sheets-sheet Aug. 9, 1932.

Original Filed Jan. 12. 1927 F/G: /0 mg F76' ELMEI/%MNO Ressued Aug. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EMER E. SMI'I'H, OI' MINNEAPOLIS; TA, ASSGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENT& TO ELMEB E. SMITE, AS TBUS'I'EE FOB HIMSELF AND WALTEB E. J'OENSON AND J'. J'. mmnscnnn v nam 'MAS-mn Original No. 1,720,451, dated July 9, 1920, serial No. 100371, med January 18, 1927. Application tor reisue filed April 24, 1930. serial No. &47,072.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bread toasters.

An object of this invention is to rovde a bread toaster comprising a base avng a 5 bread holder centrally mounted thereon and also having pivotally mounted heating elements adapted to be moved into bread-toastng ositions adjacent to the sides of sad bread holder, and further having means for automatically moving the heating elements to their non-toasting positions, after a predetermined interval.

Another object is to provide a bread toaster having a stationary bread holder, as distinguished from a movablebread holder, and having heating elements mounted one at each op oste side of the bread holder in a manner to e moved toward and away therefrom., and in a manner to flank the faces of the greatest area of the holder substantially throughout their entire surface areas. v

A further object is 'to provide a bread toaster having a pair of oppositely movable heating elements pivotally mounted upon the base thereof with meansfor moving them into uright bread -toasting positions adjacent to a read holder; means also being provided for moving the elements away from the bread holder to their non-toasting positions.

Other objects of the invention reside in the constructional details of the apparatus; the manner of mounting the heating elements upon the base; the provision of a bread toaster having its top, bottom, and ends open while toasting; and the Simplicity' of the apparatus as a whole.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description. and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in annexed claims.

In the drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exactfeatures shown, as various changes may Figure 4 is a similar view showing the heating elements' in their bread-toasting posi'- tions; e

Figure is a vertipal sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 9;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view on line 6-6 of Figure 9;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 Wltll the parts in different positions;

Figure 8 is a vertcal sectional view on line 8-8 of Figure 9;

Fgure 9 is a sectional plan view on the line 9-9 of Figure 1; and

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view on line 10 1O of Figure 9.

In the selected embodiment ofthe invention here shown, there is illustrated a bread toaster comprisin a base 11 having a bread holder 12 mounte thereon, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. This holder is prefe'abl -constructed of wire members as shown in igure 1, and is supported upon suitable legs or feet 13 Secured to the to of the base. The bottom 14 of the bread older 12 is spaced from the top wall'of the base 11, which has an elongated opening 15 therein. The top and both ends of the bread' holder are open so that the bread .may be inserted at the top or one end. V u

A feature of the invention resides in the 'mounting of the heating elements 16 upon the base 11. v Each heating element com rses a'frame 17, preferably of sheet meta and having an electric resistance coil 18 mounted thereon and suitably insulated therefrom.

Each frame 17 is pivoted upon brackets 19 Secured to the base 11. Stop pins 21 are secured in the brackets 19 to limit the outward movement of the heating elements 19, as shown in Figure 3. Each heating element is further provided with a hand grip 22 whereby it ma be manually raised to its operative brea -toasting position, as shown in Figure 4. The pivots 23 of the heating elements are preferably so arranged that the heating elements will be held in their operative positions by gravity. Flexible connections 24 connect the heating elements with suitable terminals 25 adapted to be received in the usual socket of an electric cord, not shown. g

The mounting of the heating elements in the above described manner provides a very simple and inexpensive structure. When the heating elements are in their inoperative positions, as shown in Figure 3, the bread holder is exposed on substantially all sides, as there are no end walls'or top member. When the heating'elements are in their breadtoasting positions, as shown in Figure 4, the bread supported in'the holder 12 may be viewed from one end or from the top of the toaster.

A feature of the invention relates to the arrangement of the heating element mounts 17 (or' the heatin elements) whereby when they are in upriglit or operative position as shown in Figure 4, the toast can be viewed,

- and it is conceivable that the proportionate height of-the clock mechanism and the arrangement of the trpping'elements 43-44 may be such that'the entrepiece of bread can be viewed from three sides.` y It is evident, however, that the heatin element mounts may be constructed' to su stanti'ally enclose the stationary support when in cooking position. v

It will be noticed that the bread holder is formed of opposed grid-like elements which provide means for supporting the bread, as well as for permitting heat to be applied to both faces of it. It will be further noted that when the elements 17 are in cooking position their faces are substantially parallel with and are opposed to the corresponding faces or verticalgrid-like sides of the holder. The arrangement is, therefore, such' that when in cooking 'position theholder lieswholly between the heating elements. In this way the bread is properly supported, prevented from engaging the heating elements, and yet' heat can 'be applied throughoutthe entire surface area of thosefaces of greatest area.

Means areprovided' for moving the heating elements 'from their bread-toasting `to their inoperative positions, shown in Figure 3. Such means consist of a suitable clock mechanism comprising a main shaft 26 having a spring 27 'coiled thereabout with one end secured thereto and its other end engaging a spac-ing col-lar 28, mounted 'upon a pin 29.'

This collar and pin cooperate with similar tated clockwise. A finger stop 39 is arranged.

to be engaged by the operator finger, to limit the rotationof the disk 34. Pivotally attached to the clock casing 31 are depending levers 41 and 42 having lugs 43 and 44, respectively, formed slots 45-provided in the wall of the casing 31, as shown in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The lugs 43 and 44 project through the slots 45 and extend into the path of heating elements 16 as shown` 'in Figure 1, so that when the heating elements are in their operative positions, as shown in Figure 4, and the lugs 43 and 44 are outwardly moved as a result of their connection with the clock mechanism, the lugs will engage the inner portions of the heating elements and swing them outwardly until they drop by gravity into the positions shown in Figure 3. When the heating elements are thus positioned, the bread' may be kept hot without danger of burning it.

The depending arm 41 is provided with an ofl'set portion 46 having a tension spring 47 connected therewith which tends to swing the arm 41 on its pivot in an outward direction. The' extension 46 has a straight edge- 48 engaging an extension 49 provided upon the. arm 42. This extension 49 of the arm 42 has an ofiset lu 51 riding upon a cam disk 52 as shown in igure 7. This lug 51 is held in constant contact with the periphery ofthe cam disk 52 by the action of the spring 47. The disk 52 is provided with a cutaway portion 53 within which is mounted a spring actuated gate 54 carried by a pin 55 supported ?y a disk 56 spaced from the cam-like disk At the beginning of the winding operation the lu 51 is positioned at the cutaway portion o the cam disk 52, as shown in Figurc 7. During the winding operation, the cam disk is moved from the position shown in-Figure 7 toa position such as shown in Figure 6, the exact amount of movement of the disk being determined by the extent to which thedisk 34 is rotated. As the lug 51 slides up the cam portion of the disk 52, it forces the gate 54 open against the tension of a small spring 57 to permit the passage of the lug, after which the gate again closes. As the lug 51 is thus moved outwardly, the levers 4'l and 42 are moved into the position shown in Fgure projecting through arcuately 4, without nterference from the projecting lugs 43 and 44. After the clock mechanism has thus been reset and the arms 41 and 42 move inwardly to the positions shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, they will remain in such ositions until the clock mechanism has rotate the 1 into the cutawa disks 51 and 56, and therefore the gate 54, to the position shown in F igure 7, wherein it will be noted that the lug 51 has passed over the outer edge of the gate 54 and has dropped portion of the cam disk 52 by the action o the spring 47. Such movement of the lug 51 will cause the arms 41 and 42 to be moved outwardly with the result that the projecting lugs 43 and 44 will engage the heatng elements and automatically move them outward to their inoperative positions as shown in Fi re 3.

It will be noted that the elements 52 and 54 move in unison. When disk 52 is moved in direction to wind the s ring, it will always be inFi moved sufliciently to ring that part of its periphery which is farthest from its center of rotation, into engagement with the lug 51 after which it can only arrive at its position re 7, by riding upon the outer periphery o the gate 54, which surface forms a continuation or segment -of the circul-ar periphery of the disk.

This clock mechanismis shown and described in detail in the above mentioned patent, and I do not claim the constructional details thereof as a part of this invention. Obviously, other mechanisms might be used for actuating the heating elements 16 in a manner similar to that above described. In the drawings I have shown the heating means as electrically heated, but it is to be understood that by slightly modfying the frames 17, they may be adapted for gas burners, the use of which maybe desirable in the Construction of large toasters such as are used in restaurants and cafes.

A feature of the `vention is the arrangement of the pivotal centers 23 of the heater supports, with reference to the stationary toast holder, so that the elements 17 can be held in toasting position by gravity as shown in Figure 4, against stops 43-44 or their equivalents. This is possible because of the arrangement of the pivots near the lower ends of the heating elements, and so that when against the ,stops 43-44 they slant inwardlyf and thus their weight holds them as shown.

When the stops 43-44 (in this instance' 9 shown as tripping means) are moved away from one another, the supports 17 are merely 4 pushed over the center, and the weight of the' element then carries it to the position shown in Figure 3, the movement being limited by 05 the stops 21. Thus the elements are held in This novel toaster, asshown, is adapted to toast both sides of each bread slice atthe same time. However, by making the bread holder wider, two slicesnay be inserted at one time, in which case each slice will haveone side tcasted at a time. The elongated o'pening 15 in'the base late therethrough.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bread toaster having a stationary holder adapted to hold an article to be cooked in upright position, heating element supports pivoted adjacent their lower portions adja cent said holder and adapted to Swing toward and away from it, said elements having heating means adapted to cook an article on the support when the elements are placed adjacent thereto, means against which elements rest by gravity when in cooking position, said means being operative to move the elements to` the opposite side of their pivotal centers to cause then to fall by gravity in a direction away from said holder.

2. A bread toaster having a stationary holder, heating element supports arranged one at each opposite side of said holder, and adapted to move toward and away therefrom, and means cooperative with said supports to limit their' motion at cooking position near the holder in a manner to permit inspection of the article during the cooking period. i

3. A device of the class described comprising a base having a stationary bread holder thereon, heating element supports pivoted to said base adjacent their lower ends, and adjacent the lowerportion of the bread holder and having heating elements adapted when the holders are swung to 'bring the heating elements in opposition to an article held in the holder, means to limit the movement of the elements in direction'toward the holder so that theyare held in cooking position by gravity, means for moving them over their pivot-al centers and causing them to fall by gravity in a direction away from said holder.

4. A bread toaster comprising an mmovable bread support, a pair of heating elements mounted one at opposite sides of said support and adapted to move toward and away' ment smovably mounted one at each' opposite sideof said support, meanscooperative with said elements to form a partlyclosed heating chamber about the support when in position to cook the supported article, and tming permits air to circuaway from the bread holder to inoperative positions. i

7 A bread toaster comprsin a base, heating elements pivotally mounte on said base and having means for moving'them to u right operative positions, and'an immovab e bread holder'mounted between said heating elements, said bread holder being open at the bottom, top, and ends.

8. A bread toaster comprising a, base having an elongated opening'theren, a bread holder immovably mounted 'on the base over said opening 'and with its bottom spaced from the top wall of the base, said bread holder being open at the top and at one end to permit a slice of bread to be inserted therein, a

heating element pivotally mounted u on thebase at each side of said bread'hol er and having means for connection with a source of electrical energy, means for moving said heating elements to upright bread-toastin positions adjacent to said bread holder, an a timing mechanism adapted to automatically move said heatingelements to non-toasting positions, after a predetermined length of time. i 9. A bread toaster-comprisin a base, a bread holder Secured thereon an having its bottom spaced therefrom, said holder being open at its to each side of the holder, and means on the base adapted to pivotally' support said heating elements.

1 0. A bread toaster comprising a. base, a bread holder Secured thereon, a movable heating element at each side of the holder, members for supporting the heating elements, lugs Secured to the base for pivotally supporting said members, means on said lugs forlimiting outward movement of the element-supportng members, and the ivotal connections of said members with sai lugs :being such as to cause the members to be held in bread-toastng position b gravity.

11. A brea toaster having a stationary bread holder and having heating elements mounted one at each opposite side to Swing toward and awa from the holder, and opposed to said l`ol er, and means against which said-elements rest by gravity to hold them in cooking position.

12. A bread toaster having' a stationary and ends, aheating element at i but not suflicient to continue cooking of it.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of-A ril, 1930.

` ELM R H. SMITH.

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